12 Healthiest Human Foods for Dogs

Posted: May 22 2018

12 HEALTHIEST HUMAN FOODS FOR DOGS

We all know the old saying, “The way to your dog’s heart is through her stomach.” Well maybe the old saying doesn’t exactly go like this, but we sometimes undoubtedly love sharing snacks with our four-legged friends. While we love making our pups happy by showering them with treats, do remember that some foods are safe for humans to eat but may be toxic and potentially deadly for dogs. On the other hand, many human foods are perfectly safe and even healthy for dogs to eat as an occasional treat.

Check out 12 of the healthiest human foods you can enjoy with your dog! (However, always be sure to check with your veterinarian first before introducing new food to your dog.)

1. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is a healthy and safe treat for dogs to eat in moderate amounts. This food is rich in protein, healthy fats, niacin, vitamin B, and vitamin E. However, it is best to limit your dog’s peanut butter intake since peanut butter is high in calories. If fed too much, too often, it may lead to weight gain. Also, make sure to feed your dog plain, unsalted peanut butter as salt and artificial sweeteners, particularly xylitol, are harmful to your dog.

2. Carrots

Both raw and cooked carrots are safe for your dog to eat. They’ll give your pooch a dose of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and fiber, plus they’re low in calories, which makes them a great choice treats for overweight dogs. Chewing raw carrots is also beneficial for your dog’s teeth

3. Cheese

Cheese can be an excellent treat for your dog as long as he’s not lactose intolerant. Cheese is high in protein and calcium and is easy to digest. Most dogs love cheese. Make sure to give cheese to your dog in small quantities and monitor your dog’s reaction. Opt for low or reduced fat varieties and don’t overfeed. Mozzarella, cheddar, and cottage cheese are usually good choices for your hungry hound.

4. Plain Yogurt

Yogurt is full of protein, calcium and digestive cultures, and is an excellent way to improve your pup’s digestive health. Make sure to feed your dog plain yogurt without artificial sweeteners and any other added flavors. As with cheese, lactose intolerant dogs should stay away from this dairy-based snack.

5. Blueberries

Blueberries are filled with disease-fighting antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all of which may benefit your dog’s health. Moreover, blueberries are low in calories and small in size, which makes them the perfect training treats, and you can even freeze them for a cold treat in hot weather. Your pup can also safely enjoy strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries—in moderation, of course.

6. Chicken

Chicken can be slipped into the bowl along with your dog’s regular food to add spice and extra protein to its diet. The trick is to make sure that it’s plain: no sauces, seasonings, marinades, etc. And you should always remove chicken from the bone before feeding it to your dog. Other meats like pork, rabbit, lamb, and duck are okay for dogs to eat too. However, you should never feed your dog processed meat such as bacon, sausage, pepperoni or any other kinds of deli meats.

7. Salmon

Salmon is high in protein and filled with omega 3 fatty acids, which are good for your dog’s coat and skin health, as well as supporting your dog’s immune system. However, you should avoid feeding raw salmon to your dog. It may contain a parasite that is known to cause salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal.

8. Pumpkin

This food is an excellent source of vitamin A and fiber. Canned pumpkin or fresh, cooked pumpkin with no added sugars and spices is a great choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, as it is filled with added sugar and spices.

9. Sweet Potatoes

Cooked plain sweet potatoes are a wonderful addition to your dog’s diet and are loaded with fiber, beta-carotene, and vitamins B-6 and C. You can add them to your dog’s regular food or feed them as an occasional treat to help your pup’s digestive system.

10. Apple Slices

Apples provide a significant amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Also, they are high in fiber, which may benefit your dog’s digestive system. Make sure to cut the fruit into slices and avoid feeding your dog the whole apple. Keep stems, pits, and seeds away from your pooch.

11. Eggs

One medium egg provides some of almost every vitamin and mineral, plus lots of protein. Adding eggs to your pup’s diet is a great way to give him a protein boost. Avoid feeding raw eggs as they carry the risk of Salmonella.

12. Oatmeal

As long as your dog isn’t sensitive to grains, plain oatmeal is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Oatmeal is also easily digestible, so it can be suitable for dogs with tummy problems. Remember to cook oatmeal before serving it to your dog, and do not add salt, sugar, or any other extra ingredients that could be harmful to your dog.

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We have six rescue cats, and usually only one or two will like a toy. They all LOVE the catnip cuddled, though. We have several of these so they can each have their own. They will lie down with it, lick it, kick at it, roll around with it...it’s adorable to watch. The catnip seems to last a long time, too. It’s hard to find these, so anytime I see them in a store I buy several.

I bought this at my groomers a month ago and the dogs haven’t stopped chewing on it since.
Super strong. Even withstands my super chewers.
Purchasing more of the large.
The small are best for dogs under 10lbs.

My cat Nickel plays with a toy every day, he carries it with him to every room. I had been searching and couldn't find it anywhere! It had been discontinued, I was so sad for Nickel because the he had had it for 3 years ever since he was a kitten and it was finally almost time to throw it away. I messaged r2p pet and got a response from Gaby!!! She was so great and got back to me the same day! The toy was discontinued but she found a couple in a backroom and is shipping them to me! What great customer service and it just shows that this company doesn't just sell pet toys but cares about the happiness of the pets!! I can't explain how happy Nickel will be when he gets his brand new toy!!! I will post pictures when it arrives!! Thank you thank you thank you to Gaby and R2p Pet!!!!!! You have just gained a new customer forever! I will tell all of my friends and family!!!!!!

I don’t know of what it is about this thing, but I buy these in bulk because my cat loves them so much. We call it his Bubba Gump Shrimpy. He throws them around, chases them everywhere, licks them, and presents them to me like gifts. It’s adorable and he has a great time with them. And I like knowing that he has something he will play with by himself while I’m at work.

You might say we kind of cheated? I don’t know because we already had a Silly Bum (small size) so we knew our dog was going to love them and just as we thought she does. They are actually the best toys she has because she can’t destroy them!! like she does the other toys we have bought for her. Thank you!!!

My two dogs have sensitive stomachs and completely different eating styles. The DentaBowls have successfully slowed them down to a similarly slow rate their stomachs can manage. Then there is the added benefit that their gums are being stimulated and front teeth are being 'brushed' gently by the soft rubber cones lining the bowl. I am no longer cleaning up semi-digested food 45 minutes after my dogs eat. Everyone seems happier. Most especially me!

Our cat instantly loved his Magic Meowshroom! It has become a favorite toy that he enjoys day after day. This is a high quality, durable toy that continues to provide ongoing enjoyment to our furry friend.

The moment I opened the box & my dog saw her FAVORITE Sprongs she was running around til I gave her 1. When she saw the other of course she wanted it too.
She Carry's them everywhere she goes, inside & out!
Fun squeaky toys for her.
Will definitely buy again.

I have 1 who is very shy, my friend manage to lure him out from hiding with a sunny side up.. He loves this toy this much, and remain outside as he has his toy with him. My 2 other cats also stay closeby. And after each play the toys are soaky wet as the cats are persistant with the licking. Totally great, a big hit for my trio

My big Rottweiler LOVES these balls, have been ordering them for a few years. This is only the fourth one she has had. She is 8 now so this tells you they last a long long time. She actually prefers the smaller one, so that's the size she will get next time I order. She always brings her ball to place on top of her dog food container when she knows its about time to eat!!!

I purchased this over a year ago and with a silvervine filled plush duck. The duck is hands down my cats favorite toy. Ive had to sew it back together twice. The prawn is probably the third favorite for her, and most favorite for my second cat. They play with them every day. The prawn is also very durable !

For some time I had been looking for a replacement for my dog's 2nd favorite toy, and finally this was it. Just a bit smaller in size, but otherwise the same. She was so happy as the original was so worn it had to be disposed of. Perfect!!

My cat has the cucumber, shrimp, egg, bacon, and shark Mad Cat toys. The only one she has played with is the cucumber. She bats it around like crazy. She's really finicky about her food, toys, and catnip; which is why I decided to try the silvervine toys. I rated them 5 stars because they are very well made and adorable and I think most cats would like them.

Our house already had a cactus and a baby carrot, but they were well loved and I was looking for replacements. I had no idea there would be so many amazing options and I ended up getting them all!! My cats adore these toys!

Our pups love these, but they play till there is nothing left. We had one that quit giggling and R2P sent us a free replacement. My only regret is that they no longer make the lamb, our favorite. I'd give it ten stars if I could and another ten to R2P for exemplary customer service!!

Sadly, the deflated puffin in the pic is all that's left of three gigglers after a few months, but he drags them out of the trash if we throw them away.

Picked these up at the pet store as the first toys for my newly adopted 16wk old kitten. He loves them!! He bats them around & kicks them with his hind feet. He has even half learned to fetch -- I have to initiate by tossing the toy and he will chase it, attack it and bring it back to me to throw again! We are working on voice commands to see if I can train him to full on fetch :-)

To say our cat loves this toy is an understatement--he goes nuts to put it quite frankly. We bought him a second one because he shredded the first so fast, but wanted to wait a day or so to give him the new one. So we cleverly hid the second one in a box with a velcro lid on a shelf. Around 3 in the morning we heard a crash. He proudly brought the prawn, still attached to the shelving cardboard hanger, into the bedroom to show us his prize. So here we are buying more. It's great because he plays and it's hard to find toys that keep adult cats interested.

I have 4 black adopted cats ages 4 - 3 - & the last 2 are 12 week old kittens. There are so many cat toys in my home that I could open a store lol. BUT ... when I came home from Publix with this toy my cats EXPLODED ! They shredded the plastic bag to try to get at it. I then chased them to try to get the cardboard off. Lol I NEVER had such a reaction like this b4. Needless to say I need 3 more as this one gets fought over & gnawed on till wet every day. AMAZING product. Thank you for providing fun & laughter for my whole family .

My cat was given the cool cucumber as a gift and loves it. She licks it, kicks it with her back feet, and bats it around. So, I bought her the brunch buddies, shark, and shrimp, but she was not at all interested in any of them. I'm not sure, but it may be because I had them shipped ground; they smell a little like the inside of a truck and not like her cucumber toy. They are all very cute and well made, and I've been hoping that as they "air out" she'll play with them. She is a very fussy cat and it's a challenge to find things that interest her.

Honey Bump was very excited to receive the Catnip Cuddler Kitty Condor.

Honey Bump was very excited to receive the Catnip Cuddler Kitty Condor. It was actually a replacement because I accidentally washed his original one in the washing machine (it was his favorite toy; he had it for many, many years). After I washed it, he wanted nothing to do with it. When he saw this replacement, it was like he was a kitten again (he's 13). It took him a second to realize what it was, then he grabbed it, darted off and stared playing it.

So, thanks for selling this product, you helped me make up for the mistake of washing his favorite toy!

Stopping by to buy more so I thought I'd leave a review. We have a Belgian Malinois and he loves his Silly Bum toys. He plays with him (Dino, dinosaur) all over the house, he even sleeps with it and uses it as a pillow. These are very well made toys, especially for the price and they are hilarious to look at.

Your friends will ask you, "Is that the butt of a cheetah?" It's comical. "Dog will love the touch of realism when chomping down on the realistic fur textures. And we’ve added a little extra-special “junk in the trunk” with crinkle inside to give each bum a little more crunch!" It's so true, just like they advertise, the toys have a great texture to them and they are fun for dogs. I highly recommend them.

9.5 times out of ten, my cat will pick this toy out of all his other toys. This is absolutely his favorite toy ever and this thing has stood up to some damage! He kicks this, throws it, plays fetch with it. Just goes nuts with it!

I have both my large breed dogs using the DentaDish. One is a fast eater and it does slow him down some. The other was never super fast but it slows her down as well; they are able to get every last kibble out no problem. It does help their teeth (the front ones and canines especially). I still brush teeth every day though - it is just one more thing to protect their mouths as much as possible. I like that it is dishwasher safe as it does get a little messy. I do have to pick it up after feeding or the male dog will try to eat out the bristles. I have several clients that have also purchased the bowls and other than one German Shepherd deciding to just flip the bowl over and eat off the floor - all have done well.

I think these toys are so cute, I ordered them for all the cats in my neighborhood! My own cat has the brunch buddies, taco, moustaches, and the prawn. Of all of them, he loves the prawn the most and plays with it every day, hugging it, licking it, and tossing it around. I think the silver vine makes all the difference, as he has never be particularly attracted to catnip. It would be great if you would carry silver vine to refresh his toys with.